Apple took direct aim at Nvidia's Tegra 3---a processor for a new batch of superphones---as it launched its latest iPad. The problem: Apple showed a chart with 4X the performance of Tegra 3, but provided no benchmarks or footnotes.

Anyone used to the Intel-AMD benchmark wars knows that any chart has more footnotes than a commercial for antidepressants. That's why Apple's chart looked off. Nvidia was digesting Apple's iPad claims just like everyone else via live blogs (CNET, GDGT, Engadget, Techmeme).

Nice chart, but some benchmarks and footnotes would be nice. Credit: GDGT

Ken Brown, a spokesman for Nvidia, said that it was "certainly flattering" to be called out by Apple, but the performance claims are sketchy without more data. "We don't have the benchmark information," said Brown. "We have to understand what the application was that was used. Was it one or a variety of applications? What drivers were used? There are so many issues to get into with benchmark."

Will Apple provide those benchmarks? Doubtful. However, Nvidia plans to get a new iPad when they go on sale March 16 and do some comparisons tablet to tablet. "At some point it will become more clear what the performance really is," said Brown. "For now, Apple has a really generic statement."